Sharing 'the world' of science

Whether she's dressing up as an organism or going on an underwater expedition, Beverly Owens' goal is to inspire students to investigate the world around them.

Jackie Bridges

Whether she's dressing up as an organism or going on an underwater expedition, Beverly Owens' goal is to inspire students to investigate the world around them.

Owens, eighth grade science teacher at Crest Middle School, has won the 2012 N.C. Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award presented by the Southeastern Section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers.

Randy Bechtel, president of the association, said Owens was recognized for several reasons.

"I am sure the eighth-graders at Crest Middle School will never forget the parade of Geologic Time and their teachers dressing up as protists," Bechtel said in the award notification letter. "That kind of teaching is essential to invigorate students and help them realize that science is much more than what is in a text book. I think it is great that your students were able to raise money for a fossil trip and then travel half way across the country with you. That shows devotion to your students. It is also critical to have a teacher such as yourself involved with NCDPI and assisting them in statewide initiatives. Your efforts are much appreciated not just by your students but fellow teachers and parents."

Owens has been teaching science in Cleveland County Schools for 10 years. After graduating from Cleveland Community College, she completed her bachelor and master’s degrees in middle grades education at Gardner-Webb University. In 2010, she received National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Science, and was selected as the NC Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Center’s Outstanding K-8 Educator.

Owens works closely with the members of the Crest Middle Science Department to develop team-teaching activities that spark students’ interest in science. For example, the teachers order several types of fossils for students to excavate in the classroom: fish fossils from Kemmerer, Wyo., insect and plant fossils from Florissant, Colo., and marine fossils from Aurora, N.C.

"I love being able to use professional development to impact my classroom instruction," Owens said in an email. "I have been fortunate to participate in activities such as dinosaur digs in Wyoming with the Schiele Museum of Natural History, rock and fossil collection with the Carolina Geological Society, and been an Educator at Sea on the Extreme Corals Expedition. These types of activities have provided me with a wealth of resources to share with students, including photos, rock and fossil samples, and information from scientists in the field."

Owens said teaching allows her to share the “world” of science with her students. On several occasions, she has been able to take students on the Schiele Museum’s Jurassic Expedition dinosaur dig.

"For these students, this trip was a once in a lifetime experience – an opportunity to work with a paleontologist at an active excavation site," she said. "Whether it is inside of the classroom, in a real world setting, or after school, I enjoy being able to provide science-based experiential learning opportunities for students."

Reach Jackie Bridges at 704-669-3337.

Five things to know about Beverly Owens - Married to Scott Owens, a counselor at Burns Middle School - Taught three years of seventh grade science and seven years of eighth grade science - Crest Middle School Science Olympiad Coach for nine years - Program specialist at Schiele Museum in Gastonia, responsible for conducting teacher workshops, community outreach, presenting public programs and leading educational trips - Teaches anatomy and physiology lab courses at Cleveland Community College

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